South Boston is a town located in Halifax County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 8,491.

History

On December 8, 1796, the General Assembly authorized eight commissioners to establish at Boyd's Ferry on the south side of the Dan River the town of South Boston, named for Boston, Massachusetts. Because this site proved vulnerable to flooding, it was eventually abandoned in favor of a new settlement on the north side. By the 1850s the Richmond and Danville Railroad passed through South Boston, which eventually developed into an important market for brightleaf tobacco. In 1884 it was incorporated as a town; in 1960 it became an independent city by court order. South Boston became a town again and rejoined Halifax County in 1995.

Geography

South Boston is located at 36°42'28" North, 78°54'12" West (36.707722, -78.903388)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 31.8 km² (12.3 mi²). 31.6 km² (12.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.41% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 8,491 people, 3,502 households, and 2,185 families residing in the town. The population density is 268.3/km² (694.7/mi²). There are 3,946 housing units at an average density of 124.7/km² (322.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 50.63% White, 47.25% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.51% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 3,502 households out of which 29.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% are married couples living together, 20.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% are non-families. 34.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 16.3% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.26 and the average family size is 2.90.

In the town the population is spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $25,964, and the median income for a family is $34,848. Males have a median income of $28,212 versus $20,371 for females. The per capita income for the town is $15,872. 20.4% of the population and 15.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.2% of those under the age of 18 and 23.9% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• South Boston.com (http://www.southboston.com)
• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=36.707722&longitude=-78.903388&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=36.707722&lon=-78.903388&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-78.903388&lat=36.707722&w=750&h=500)